Stratvillan

Missed out hourihane on my original post. Ok, tell me which teams above us are going to sign the following 8 above average players. Hutton, Taylor, Bree, Elphick, Whelan, , jedinak, Davis, hogan, that's a third of the squad, not counting those out on loan. To say our squad is above average is probably true, average being 12th, our squad is probably top 10. Our forward line, who we only own half of, is top 3 or 4. Interesting what will happen if tammy goes. The midfield has quality but lacks the enforcer, and depth and so isn't overall effective, look at what has happened since we've lost Grealish, so lower reaches of playoffs. the defence is probably league 1 at best. I'm not saying the team are rubbish, but the squad is so imbalanced and totally dependent on loans. (These loans are in the wrong places as well, but that's a different argument). As a previous poster said, don't confuse inflated transfer fees and excessive wages with quality.

May work out best in the long run. His eyes and those of the owners have seriously been opened to the lack of quality in a pretty poor squad. If you go through our squad, and look at which championship teams would take our players.(not loan) defence - Chester to a top half team? Midfield - mcginn and grealish to prem. Lansbury and Thor top half team. forwards - kodjia /adomah to a top half team? it doesn't look that great. I think that's why he's not throwing the kids in. They'd disappear.

Favourite quote of the year. End of discussion.

I'm a fan Of hourihane. Thought he was really poor today. He has his faults, the problem is whoever plays beside him doesn't tackle either, so everyone runs through us. If we side a tough midfielder I'd drop bb or whelan before hourihane.

Thought he played well, athletic disciplined, overlapped at times. Panicked a bit towards the end in trying cross field passes. Strange what happens when he plays a couple of games in a row. Left back now please!

Think the cup game will one of his last. Every team goes down his side, whichever that is.

Genuine question. Who would we miss more, hourihane and his measurable output, or mcginn and his commitment/ harrying etc.

I can't imagine a situation where anyone wanting to play football would build a team around Jedi. He has his uses but even at this level a cdm tends to be more mobile and better on the floor than they had to be 5 years ago. He kept his position last year in a more defensive setup where his lack of mobility and passing were covered by others. If we're thinking about playing him I'd rather we played an extra centre half and played a real 352.

Good result. Adds a bit of stability. We've a new manager with a squad who can't play the football he wants. It'll be interesting looking at this team after the transfer window. We're going to get better, how many above us can say that?

unfortunately it was the previous managers defence which caused the collapse. Feel sorry for Smith that he's inherited such a deficient squad.

My least fav. Player, bags of skill, appalling attitude. Thought Tammy was going to explode when he wouldn't press with him.

I think we'll be even more of an attacking threat when we sort out our defence. Imagine having 2 full backs who engaged the forwards instead of running away. Imagine having a flint type defender who would actually attack any crosses / corners. I thought when smith took over if we were within 7/8 points of the playoffs come Jan 1 we were in with a real shout, I think that's where we'll be.

There's a plan and a shape, but based around the defenders actually playing like professional footballers. Theres no way that smith would play at least 3 out of that back 4 if he had any choice. The back up when fit, are probably worse.

Don't know if he is guilty or not. It could be argued that the limited number of players graduating into the first team at villa, but making the grade elsewhere might indicate that something wasn't working as well as it might.

Ain't no body like el ghazi

Kodjia is never unfortunate not to be starting.

Ain't nobody, like El ghazi

Delete.

It's where you are when the daffodils come up - apparently.

Awful last night. When he isn't awful he plays well for 20 minutes, and is awful for 70. Would have subbed him 1/2 way through the first half. You only have to compare him with any of our other forwards to see how selfish and lazy he is.

Slightly better than nice! how many players would be here if we didn't pay their wages? He was the one who was put in the bomb squad, he didn't ask to be. Happy for him, anyone who heard his interview can't doubt his passion for the club.

Don't like the idea of a cdm, but I think he does it well.

Disagree, thought whelan was a good solid 7.

Liked his subs, whelan off, who played well, and a more attacking mid on. Meant we didn't have 9 men along our penalty box defending a lead.

Quite liked Sherwood. Open,honest. But I think he'll be limited to BT sport on a Saturday afternoon.